Monday Motivation: I Believe

The church choir sang performed this yesterday. Beautiful and poignant. 

The lyrics supposedly come from a poem written on the wall of cellar by a Jew in Cologne during World War II. 

Sts. Galaction and Episteme

St. Galaction was born in the third century in Emesa, in what is now Syria. His parents were a wealthy couple who had once been pagan. Childless, they converted to Christianity after meeting a travelling preacher who told them that God would hear their prayers and grant them a child. Galaction was conceived and born after their conversion.

He wanted to be monk, but his parents wanted him to marry and inherit the family estate. They betrothed him to Episteme, a pagan from another wealthy family. During their engagement, Galaction visited Episteme; over time he converted her and her servant to Christianity. The couple ran away together to live religious lives. Galaction joined a monastery, and Episteme joined an abbey.

In 251, persecution of Christians rose. Galaction was sentenced to death. When she heard the news, Episteme went to his side and was martyred with him.

Their feast day is Nov. 5

Driving Out Darkness

It's so tiring paying attention these days. The vitriol and hate, the erosion of norms and justice, the desire for others’ pain and suffering. I watch people saying awful slurs, wishing for violence and death, cheering on dictators, holding up fraud, deception, bribery, abuse, torture, and rape as virtues. They are angry and dangerous.

And they rile up anger in me. I want them to recognize the errors of their ways. I want them to stop. I want them to feel the consequences of their dangerous ideas. But I know that I must not give into anger. Anger turns into hate. I cannot give into the same emotional manipulation that causes people to dehumanize their fellow man. Hatred will not cause a change of heart. Hatred will not heal a broken country. You cannot fight darkness with darkness. You cannot fight hate with hate. Anger at injustice can motivate us to work for good, but hatred has no positive purpose.

We are all children of God. We are called to love our neighbors. These are the truths that transcend the current climate and personal struggles. God does not abandon us—He loves us and wants to be reconciled to us. To follow God means to love the hard to love, to desire reconciliation with those who push away or cause division. Love anyway. It’s a simple command, even if it’s not easy.